Abstract
Transformation was carried out by infecting retro virus carrying cytomegaro virus promoter and c-myc oncogene to the growth cartilage (GC) cells from rat ribs. After the screening and cloning, cell clones with different characteristics were obtained and these characteristics were examined by histochemical staining. Two clones showed a spindle shape morphologically, a negative alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), and an active fiber formation. The clones with these characteristics were assigned as fibroblast type. Three clones showed a polygonal shape morphologically, a negative ALP, and an active fiber formation. The clones with these characteristics were assigned as resting cartilage cell type. Other clones showed characteristics of each GC cells. Depending on their characteristics, they were assigned as the proliferative GC cells, early hypertrophic GC cells and late hypertrophic GC cells. Some of the nodule forming clones reacted with a GC specific antibody. Some clones changed their characteristics before and after their confluency.
